BSUPA Level One – Ready to Ride (Private Session)

• Train/Tube: Richmond Train Station is a 10-minute walk away. There are frequent overground trains from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction, as well as Underground trains on the District Line, and Overground trains from North London.
• Bike: You can cycle along the towpath to Richmond Bridge and chain your bike up to the railings.
• Bus: Richmond Bus Station is a 5-minute walk away.
• Parking: The easiest parking is at Friars Lane Car Park, 5 minutes from Richmond Bridge.

Absolutely! We offer our 2-Hour SUP Experiences (Group or Private) which you can view at the bottom of the page. In these sessions, we show you the ropes with some land-based training, then go on a paddleboarding tour whilst giving you tips and techniques to improve your paddleboarding. You don’t gain a certification, but this will get you standing on the board and increase your confidence.

This is designed for those wishing to learn to paddleboard and gain a BSUPA qualification. Participants must be age 13+ to participate.

Absolutely! All sessions are supervised by a certified instructor and are timed to occur at ‘half-tide’ for minimal river flow at Richmond, maximising safety.

You’ll get to paddle on the scenic Thames, either heading upstream towards Eel Pie Island and Teddington or downstream towards Isleworth, Kew Gardens, and Chiswick.

From Richmond, you will usually start by paddling downstream towards Richmond Lock, and then upstream towards Glover’s Island, Ham House, Eel Pie Island and Teddington. On most sessions we reach Eel Pie Island before turning back to Richmond, and on High Tide sessions expect to get to Teddington Lock and back in a two-hour session.

You’ll begin with a safety overview and some land-based instruction. Then, we head to the water for a guided lesson that covers everything from paddleboarding gear, river safety, tidal understanding, to maneuvering techniques. We aim to have you standing and paddling confidently quickly!

This particular session follows the BSUPA course content, aimed at achieving your Ready to Ride Level One certification. Specific skills include: board and kit selection; paddle adjustment and water preparation; environmental assessment; water entry techniques; basic to advanced paddle techniques: prone, kneeling, and standing; turning and maneuvering; self-rescue tips; and safe water exits.

Sorry, this course is for people only. However, you can book our special Doggy Paddle sessions at the bottom of the page!

Come dressed in the attire you plan to paddle in, as our changing space is quite basic.

Your bags and valuables can be safely stored in our lockable storage area.

You don’t need specialised attire, but please avoid jeans and cotton, as they become uncomfortably cold when wet. Quick-drying gym clothes or swimwear work well in warm weather (shorts, leggings, T-shirts, fleeces).

Footwear is optional; most people prefer to paddle barefoot, but water shoes, flip-flops, or older trainers are fine if you prefer.

For sunny conditions, pack a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle.

During colder months (November to March), we recommend wearing a wetsuit. These are available upon request, or you can bring your own. Also, pack extra layers, a towel, and a change of clothes in case you end up in the water.

Consider bringing a small dry bag to hold spare clothes, money, essential medications, and your phone in a waterproof case. If you don’t have a dry bag, we sell them on-site. If you’re concerned about losing sunglasses, sunglasses straps are available for purchase for £5.

Our sessions include the use of our paddleboards, paddles, and mandatory buoyancy aids.

Nearly everyone is standing up within 10 minutes of getting on the water.  We use really stable boards that make it easy for everyone to get started, and tried and tested techniques to help you feel comfortable standing on the boards.  It’s a brilliant all-body workout, and you’ll certainly feel it the day after (in a good way).  And don’t worry about your core muscles – if you paddle enough they will become super-strong!

The Thames is currently one of the cleanest rivers running through a major city in the world, and is recognised as a massive environmental success story. It currently boasts about 325 wildlife species in its tidal stretches, including; cormorants, herons, seals, and perch, some of which you’ll be sure to see on your trip. You’ll also be sharing the river with lots of people who also use the water, especially rowers, kayakers, motorboats, and the occasional open-water swimmer!

As a precaution for paddling in any inland water, open cuts should be covered with plasters and tape, and you should wash your hands with soap / antibacterial gel before eating any food. Take a shower if you fall in.

Not very likely – but there’s a small chance. We will teach you techniques to help you feel stable on your board, and how to get down onto your knees if you need a break from standing. We will also make sure you know how to get back on your board in the unlikely event that you do take a dip.

We occasionally cancel group trips if we do not have the minimum number of participants to run the session (this is rare between Spring-Autumn). We also very occasionally cancel if we deem conditions on the day to be unsafe (e.g. very strong winds, nearby thunderstorms, fast river flow, etc.), but we are not put off by wet weather. In fact, it’s lovely on the river in the rain! If your session is cancelled by us, you will have an option to reschedule.